IGP tells political parties:

Please cooperate

Rafik Jalaldeen

IGP Mahinda Balasuriya yesterday appealed to all political parties to refrain from conducting any political demonstrations and advised party members to respect the law of the country so that a peaceful election can be held.

He also urged the parties not to use gangsters and deserters from the police, STF, Security Forces and Civil Defence Force in the election campaign.

Addressing the media yesterday at the Police Headquarters the IGP said the police have done its utmost to remove election cutouts, banners, posters and other political decorations.

“Still there are allegations that these election related cutouts, posters and banners have not been removed. It is obvious that we can’t remove 100 percent.

“Police are working hard round the clock and we will carry out our duties to the maximum to remove them as much as possible,” he added.

The IGP said from January 9 to 17 midnight the police had removed a large number of cutouts and posters. “In all 2,597 cutouts, 78,027 posters, 858 banners and 10,091 election decorating items were removed by police. We have removed at least 10,900 kgs of election decorations,” he added.

IGP Balasuriya affirmed that police will remove all cutouts and posters on roads leading to the polling centres before January 24.

He said the Elections Commissioner did not say the police were incapable of removing cutouts as reported in the media.

“There was a meeting with the General Secretaries of the political parties, the Elections Commissioner and the IGP.

When the Commissioner said the police will never remove the cutouts, banners and posters, we discussed the functions of police during the election campaign and the difficulties involved in removing the election related banners cutouts. I explained to him the ground situation. Later he withdrew his statement.

We are duty bound,” the IGP said. DIG (Crimes) Anura Senanayake said 694 election related incidents were reported from all around the country. They included major and minor incidents. The police have identified 307 suspects involved in violence and 123 cases have been settled. Around 289 suspects were arrested and most of them have been released on bail.

“We also resolved 93 minor cases peacefully bringing together both parties. Eighteen complaints of death threats were lodged with police and 379 cases of mischief reported. There were also 74 complaints of verbal abuse, most of them over the phone,” he added.

DIG Senanayake observed that three fatal incidents had taken place in Hungama, Puttalam and Wariyapola during the election campaign so far. In addition to that, a major clash had taken place in Polonnaruwa.

“Police are conducting impartial investigations regardless of who is involved to enforce law and order in the country. Thorough investigations are being carried out to bring the culprits to book . Certain key suspects related to the killings and the clashes were arrested. More suspects are to be arrested,” he added.

The Puttalam incident is being handled by the CID.

He said it is important that the Pradeshiya Sabha Members advise their party supporters to behave responsibly and avoid violence. “It is only then that we can have a peaceful Presidential election,” the DIG added.